# My damn truck just threw up coolant all over my garage **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 29, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125 "2021-05-29T03:19:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/1 "2021-05-29T03:19:04Z")
I have a 2001 Sonoma with a 4.3. It started making a knocking noise after I replaced the seals. It sounds like a bad crankshaft bearing. I just went to start it up to isolate the noise and coolant just shot out across the garage. It came from the driver side front corner. It looks like it was splashing off the control arm. I found this on top the control arm ![191871990_963753034393319_2227760045080373262_n](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/2/c272345c7aac39dcc90ebc8d11917ef5af084209.jpeg) ![187902299_321359142938544_7421246934921480729_n](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/4/c4f9fd6fb9da49d3e076a79470a42c9be2ee9ae4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/2 "2021-05-29T03:24:52Z")
Is it the seal from the coolant overflow cap? but iy looks like you have bigger problems ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/3 "2021-05-29T03:27:30Z")
> [@weekend-warrior](#): > > coolant overflow cap No this is rubber. Its very mailable. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/4 "2021-05-29T03:34:32Z")
Had one at work that did that, I can try and call the retired mechanic, but do not recall the solution. I think they just sent it off to auction. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/5 "2021-05-29T03:35:42Z")
That would be cool. I’m about there ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/6 "2021-05-29T03:41:36Z")
20 year old 4.3 pickup, I’d send to a scrap yard. They might give you a couple bucks based on the weight. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/7 "2021-05-29T04:00:43Z")
There has to be hope ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/8 "2021-05-29T04:06:18Z")
I have to be out of this house pretty soon. I’m packing up for the next few weeks and taking a ridiculous chemistry class. I don’t know how I will have time. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/9 "2021-05-29T04:10:34Z")
Has anyone ever messed up a crankshaft bearing just by rotating it? I cant make sense of why it would do that… ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/10 "2021-05-29T04:11:58Z")
Maybe that item you show has nothing to do with the coolant leak and simply fell onto the control arm sometime in the past. I have a 98 Sonoma with the 4.3 but don’t feel like poking around in the dark to identify that part. I will take a look tomorrow in the daylight though. I seem to remember a plug in the radiator tank (driver side) around the engine oil cooler line fittings but do not remember it being malleable rubber. (engine oil cooler optional) Maybe you could add water into the radiator filler neck and see where it gushes out. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/11 "2021-05-29T04:15:00Z")
Yeah that’s a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/12 "2021-05-29T04:26:11Z")
Is that the seal for the brake master cylinder cap? You might check to see if yours is missing. If it’s the present and the same it could be that it fell out sometime in the past with a prior owner and they replaced it rather than hunt for it. Matter of fact I will go check mine right now with a flashlight…back in a few. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/13 "2021-05-29T04:30:07Z")
Well, that item appears to be the master cylinder cap seal so it’s not the cause of a coolant leak. Fill it up with water and if nothing comes out then one has to wonder about the radiator cap, radiator to overflow tank, and overflow hose. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/14 "2021-05-29T04:33:23Z")
Thanks for doing that. I’ll do that when I get done working tomorrow. I got way too much heat tonight. Need to sleep ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/15 "2021-05-29T04:40:05Z")
I should have said this at the start. My serpentine belt was off when the coolant spewed everywhere… ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/16 "2021-05-29T04:46:42Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > There has to be hope Sure there always is, but not holding any for this one. > [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > It started making a knocking noise after I replaced the seals. It sounds like a bad crankshaft bearing. Already has an unexpected unexplained knock. > [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > Has anyone ever messed up a crankshaft bearing just by rotating it? I think it’s a done deal. If a crank bearing rotates it covers an oil feed hole starving that crank journal of oil. > [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > I cant make sense of why it would do that… Too much clearance between bearing and crank, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/17 "2021-05-29T04:51:05Z")
Pop the master cylinder cap off tomorrow and if yours is missing then you know where it went. I tend to think the coolant issue is a minor problem. With a belt off and a mechanical cooling fan it will overheat and puke coolant out past the cap or overflow system. These radiators use plastic tanks so you might look the area over around where the cap is located for some cracks. Last summer the tank around the cap on my Sonoma was fine one minute and had a 6 inch crack the next. It happens with age and heating cycles. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 4:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/18 "2021-05-29T04:56:11Z")
You were right about the master cylinder cap. Not sure why it was down there, but it’s been a while since I worked on my truck. My truck was on for maybe two second when it happened. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 5:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/19 "2021-05-29T05:05:03Z")
The tank was on the other side also ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/20 "2021-05-29T21:38:29Z")
> [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > I should have said this at the start. My serpentine belt was off when the coolant spewed everywhere… Just a wild guess by someone who is _not_ a mechanic but you tried running it without the water pump, which is AFAIK driven by the serpentine belt. I can’t imagine the result would be pretty. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125.md?page=2)